Mound City News

Your organization is atrue leader, demonstrat-ing a commitment to jus-tice and equality, whileproviding a service tothe community. Over 80years ago, the MoundCity Bar Association wasestablished to promotethe advancement ofAfrican-Americans in thelegal world. This pro-gression has opened thedoors for future genera-tions and is a fight thatmust continue to be waged.

As an attorney, I have spent my career pursuingthe same objectives. I have dedicated most of myprofessional life to public service and fighting toachieve the same objectives as groups such as theMound City Bar Association. The interests of theMound City Bar Association have always been a pri-ority of mine as State Auditor, because my deputyAuditor is a member. During my time as State Repre-sentative, I established my commitment to minoritiesby voting to increase state business to minority con-tractors by supporting the Minority Procurement Actand divesting from South Africa, as well as by votingto create an office of Minority Health.

I am a strong believer in the importance of break-

Rep. Connie Johnson

SKELTON DENIED: LongtimeU.S. Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo.,recently was denied a state-issuednon-driver photo ID because hedidn’t have the necessary sup-porting documentation. Accord-ing to a Kansas City star editorialpublished Aug. 19, Skelton, whodoesn’t drive, showed his officialU.S. House photo ID when apply-ing for a state ID at the Lexingtonfee office. Although a clerk at theoffice was prepared to acceptSkelton’s House ID as documen-tation, Department of Revenueofficials rejected his application,saying he needed either a birthcertificate or U.S. passport. Skel-

ton says he has “no idea” wherehis birth certificate is but has aU.S. passport in Washington, D.C.

“This is going to disenfranchisesome nice people, particularlysenior citizens who walk in with-out a photo ID or driver’slicense,” Skelton said of the newstate law requiring a photo ID tovote. Prior to 2002, voters in thestate, like most of the countrywere generally not required topresent any form of identificationas a condition of voting. In 2002the Missouri legislature requiredthat some form of identificationbe presented, but allowed anyone of several forms of ID readi-ly available to virtually all regis-tered voters.Earlier this year, thelegislature further revised the

I Know Who I Am But Can I Prove It?( . . . and at what cost?)

To the Members of the Mound City Bar Association

See JOHNSON, page 7MC

Claire McCaskill

Rep. Connie Johnson

Rolanda JohnsonEditor

NewsletterCommittee Members

Mound City BarExecutive Board

2006-2007

PRESIDENT:Pamela MeanesPRESIDENT-ELECT:

Rufus TateVICE-PRESIDENT:Annette Slack

RECORDING SECRETARY:Kemba Logan

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY:Carla AllenTREASURER:

Paul RandolphPARLIAMENTARIAN:Robert Kenney

HISTORIAN:Celeste DotsonMEMBER AT LARGE(OVER 10 YEARS):

Joan Miller

MEMBER AT LARGE(UNDER 10 YEARS):Rolanda Johnson

Samuel Henderson Esq.

Hope Whitehead Esq.

Thank you to The Bar Plan sponsors of the Mound City News — see ad on page 8MCPlease remember the articles in this newsletter reflect the views of the authors and are not necessarily the views of the Mound City Bar Association. The information contained in this newsletter is not legal advice; if you want legal advice, you must consult your own attorney.

Questions? Concerns? Comments? E-mail: discovery219@charter.net

Supplement to St. Louis Daily Record & The Countian Page 1MC

I want to commendthe Mound City BarAssociation for yourcontinued leadership inthe community and forthe organization’s nearly85-year commitment tojustice and our democ-racy. Your organizationis vital to our communi-ty for not only the pro-fessional services youprovide for your mem-bers, but also for yourpursuit of justice.

I have been pleased to champion many of thecauses that are important to the Mound City Bar. Iwas a proud cosponsor the Voting Rights Reautho-rization Act signed into law on July 27, 2006. TheVoting Rights Act broke the segregationist lock on theballot box ending the unfair practice that deniedAfrican-Americans their right to vote.

Mound City Bar members know better than mostthat even after 40 or 50 years, many Civil Rights eramurders remain unsolved. I am working in the Sen-ate with Senator Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and in theHouse with Congressmen John Lewis (D-Ga.) andKenny Hulshof (R-Mo.) to pass the Unsolved CivilRights Crime Act, a bill I have sponsored to achievejustice in these Civil Rights cold cases.

Jim Talent

See McCASKILL page 5MC See TALENT page 5MC

Mound City Bar Association NewsletterNovember 2006Election Issue

Sreenu Dandamudi

Stem cell research has been get-ting quite a lot of publicity latelybecause of Amendment 2, the Mis-souri Stem Cell Research and CuresInitiative, which will appear on thisNovember’s statewide ballot. Beforedebating the merits of Amendment 2,we must first understand the basicsof stem cell research. There are twotypes of stem cell research: researchon adult type stem cells and researchon embryonic stem cells.

Adult type stem cells are found inthe tissues of adults and discardedumbilical cords and placentas.Research on adult stem cells hasbeen ongoing for over fifty years andhas led to nine FDA-approved adultstem cell treatments, including thedevelopment of bone marrow trans-plants and leukemia cures.

Embryonic stem cell research isthe use of leftover fertility clinicembryos that would otherwise bediscarded by a process called somat-ic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).SCNT is a recent medical break-through that can use a patient’s owncells and an unfertilized human eggto make ES cells that match thepatient’s genetic makeup. ES cellresearch does not use or harm anembryo or fetus in a woman’suterus. Adult stem cells can turninto a limited number of related celltypes. ES cells have the potential to

turn into any type of cell or tissue inthe human body. As a result, EScells could provide cures for manydiseases and injuries that cannot becured with adult stem cells. Stemcells made with the SCNT processhave the added advantage of beingmade with DNA from a patient’sown cell – thus eliminating the needfor genetically matching a donor andthe problem of immune systemrejection. Furthermore, even if adonor is available, SCNT wouldeliminate the need of harvesting anorgan from a donor who is typicallya relative. Research and curesinvolving both SCNT and ES cellsfrom leftover fertility clinic embryosare allowed under federal law andare being actively pursued in theU.S. and many other countries.

Unfortunately, some politicians inJefferson City are trying to pass statelaws that would ban and criminalizeimportant types of stem cell researchin Missouri – and actually prevent Mis-souri patients from having access tofuture stem cell cures that are federal-ly-approved and available to patientsin other states. Amendment 2 doesthree things: it protects the right ofMissouri patients to have their diseasesand injuries treated with any stem celltherapies and cures that are allowedby federal law and available to otherAmericans; it ensures that Missourimedical institutions can provide andhelp find new stem cell cures; and it

creates clear ethical and oversightguidelines for stem cell research con-ducted in Missouri — including a strictban on human cloning or any attemptto clone a human being.

Currently, stem cell research isbeing conducted to cure severalcommon and uncommon ailmentsamong Americans, including: sicklecell disease, Alzheimer’s disease,autoimmune diseases, cancer, dia-betes, heart disease, stroke, othercardiovascular diseases, multiplesclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, andspinal cord injury.

Currently, bone marrow trans-plants are already providing curesfor some victims of sickle cell dis-ease. Scientists believe that, with fur-ther research, other types of stemcell therapies could provide cures to

many more sickle cell sufferers.Scientific research has shown that

insulin-producing islet cells can betransplanted into patients with Type1 diabetes and that such transplantscould potentially provide a cure.However, the only current source ofreplacement islet cells is from humancadavers. There are and not enoughdonated islet cells available from thissource to treat the many childrenand adults who have Type 1 dia-betes. In addition, because donatedislet cells are not a perfect geneticmatch with the patient’s DNA,patients who receive donated isletcells must take powerful drugs toprevent rejection. These drugs havesevere and potentially fatal sideeffects and rejection often occursdespite the medication. This iswhere SCNT can be used to producecells that will automatically matchthe patient’s genetic makeup.

Just like the development of organtransplants and blood transfusions inthe past, stem cell research bringsrealistic, new hope to people. Thisis why Amendment 2 has beenendorsed by the Missouri State Med-ical Association, the Mound CityMedical Forum, the Council of the St.Louis Metropolitan Medical Society,the St. Louis County NAACP, JamesH. Buford, Frankie Muse Freeman,Nathaniel Murdock, MD, MargaretBush Wilson, and MCBA’s very ownRueben Shelton.

Amendment 2: Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative

Sreenu Dandamudi

Page 2MC Supplement to St. Louis Daily Record & The Countian

We are compelled to respond tothe editorial that appeared in the St.Louis Post-Dispatch on October 12,2006, wherein it was recommendedthat County voters vote “NO” onJudge Judy Draper’s retention. Theeditorial was based on the “Voters’Information About Judges” which isan evaluation survey of the judgesserving under Missouri’s Non-Parti-san Court Plan who are seeking

retention on the bench in theNovember 7, 2006 general election.This survey was conducted by theMissouri Bar Association, the BarAssociation of Metropolitan St. Louisand the Kansas City MetropolitanBar Association. The editorialacknowledged that the MissouriNon-Partisan Court Plan had itsflaws, but recognized the evils pre-sented when special interest money

influences partisan elections. Tosome extent, we agree with bothpropositions. That, however, is adiscussion for another day. Anexamination of the survey revealsthat it, too, has its flaws. We havelegitimate concerns about themethod used to conduct the surveyand the statistical validity of the sur-vey.

We do not dispute that the BarAssociations provide a critical serviceto the public in conducting the sur-vey. Nonetheless, to serve itsintended purpose of educating thepublic about the judges based onmerit and competency, the surveymust contain adequate safeguards toaccomplish its goal. While webelieve the criteria used to judge thejudges is fair on the surface, our con-cern is that the process to apply thatcriteria converts the survey to nomore than a popularity contest.

First, a significant component tothe validity of the survey must bethat the lawyers have personalknowledge about the judge. Theabsence of adequate safeguards toensure that only lawyers who meetthat criterion respond to the surveyprovides too much opportunity for alawyer or group of lawyers at oddswith a judge over an opinion or rul-ing, or for any other reason, tomanipulate the survey. In addition,the number of lawyers respondingto the survey for a particular judgehas a direct impact on the judge’sapproval/non-approval rating, andthereby the statistical validity of thesurvey. A review of the numberssuggests that they are either too high

or too low for certain judges. Forexample, Judge Draper, who wasappointed to the bench in May 2004,had 302 lawyers who responded tothe survey. It is presumed that all302 of the lawyers who evaluatedher had actually appeared in hercourtroom. The evidence suggeststhat is not the case. All of theselawyers could not have appearedbefore Judge Draper during the timeperiod in question. These are onlytwo of our major concerns, but theyare critical to the integrity of the sur-vey.

Lawyers are human beings. Assuch we, too, bring our biases to thistype of process. Given the inherentproblems with a process that isbased solely on evaluations, the Col-orado State Bar Association, whichalso has a non-partisan court plan,has a process that includes evalua-tions from lawyers and interviewswith a non-partisan committee.Recently, we held a meeting andbegan dialogue with the MissouriBar about our concerns. We hopethat further cooperative effortsbetween our respective Bar Associa-tions will result in a process that is asfair as possible to all of the judges toensure the value and integrity of thejudicial evaluations. After all, this isthe result we all want. Until thattime, voters should disregard the sur-vey and vote “YES” to retain JudgeJudy Draper and all the judges up forretention in November. The numbersdo not speak for themselves.

Pamela Meanes, President MoundCity Bar Association

The Numbers Do Not Speak For ThemselvesMound City Bar Responds to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Mound City BarAssociation’s CLE seriesSeptember was the start of the Mound City BarAssociation's CLE series. We got off to a won-derful start thanks to Venus Harry. Ms. Harrypresented on "The Basics of Family Law".The CLE was well attended and the consensusfrom the audience was that the presentation was"excellent". The overwhelming majority of par-ticipants thought we just did not have enoughtime.

Thanks to all who attended the October CLE "Good Lawyering:How to Prepare Your Case for Trial" presented by Vanessa Keith.Attorney Keith did a fantastic job and had an excellent grasp of thesubject matter. She was gracious enough to carry on even thoughthe World Series was taking place. She even brought gifts for theattendees.

On behalf of the Mound City Bar Association, I would like to extendthis heartfelt thank you to Ms. Venus Harry and Mrs. Vanessa Keith.Thank you both so much for a job very well done.For more information on future CLE's contact: Annette Slack, VP,Mound City Bar Association

Annette Slack, VicePresident Mound City

Bar Association.

General Election — Tuesday Nov. 7, 2006REPUBLICAN

PARTYDEMOCRATIC

PARTYLIBERTARIAN

PARTYPROGRESSIVE

PARTY

FOR U. S. SENATE:Jim Talent

FOR U. S. SENATE:Claire McCaskill

FOR U. S. SENATE:Frank Gilmour

FOR U. S. SENATE:Lydia Lewis

FOR STATEAUDITOR:Sandra Thomas

FOR STATEAUDITOR:

Susan Montee

FOR STATEAUDITOR:Charles W. Baum

FOR STATEAUDITOR:Terry Bunker

Supplement to St. Louis Daily Record & The Countian Page 3MC

MISSOURI SUPREME COURTJUDGES

• Judge William Ray Price• Judge Mary Rhodes Russell• Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr.

EASTERN DISTRICT

• Judge Kenneth M. Romines • Judge Nannette A. Baker

CIRCUIT JUDGES22ND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

• Judge Jimmie Edwards• Judge Robert Dierker• Judge Michael David• Judge Margaret M. Neill• Judge Edward Sweeney• Judge Donald L. McCullin• Judge Jack Garvey• Judge Joan L. Moriarty

ASSOCIATE CIRCUIT JUDGES22ND CIRCUIT

• Judge Michael F. Stelzer• Judge Paula Perkins Bryant• Judge Michael K. Mullen• Judge Elizabeth Hogan• Judge Barbara T. Peebles

CIRCUIT JUDGES 21ST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

• Judge John F. Kintz• Judge David L. Vincent

• Judge Michael T. Jamison• Judge Michael D. Burton• Richard C. Bresnahan• Judge Colleen Dolan

ASSOCIATE CIRCUIT JUDGES21ST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

• Judge Barbara Ann Crancer• Judge Brenda Stith Loftin• Judge Patrick Clifford• Judge Dennis Neil Smith• Judge Judy Preddy Draper

Shall these Judges Be Retained in Office?

______________________________CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

CONSTITUTIONAL

AMENDMENT NO. 2Proposed by Initiative Petition

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to allow and set limitations on stem cellresearch, therapies, and cures which will:

• ensure Missouri patients have access to any therapies and cures, and allowMissouri researchers to conduct any research, permitted under federal law;

• ban human cloning or attempted cloning; • require expert medical and public oversight and annual reports on the nature and

purpose of stem cell research; • impose criminal and civil penalties for any violations; and • prohibit state or local governments from preventing or discouraging lawful stem

cell research, therapies and cures?

The proposed constitutional amendment would have an estimated annual fiscal impact onstate and local governments of $0-$68,916.

YESNO

___________________________________________

CONSTITUTIONAL

AMENDMENT NO. 3Proposed by Initiative Petition

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to create a Healthy Future Trust Fund whichwill:

1. be used to reduce and prevent tobacco use, to increase funding for healthcareaccess and treatment for eligible low-income individuals and Medicaid recipients,and to cover administrative costs;

2. be funded by a tax of four cents per cigarette and twenty percent on othertobacco products; and

3. be kept separate from general revenue and annually audited?

Additional taxes of four cents per cigarette and twenty percent of the manufacturer’sinvoice price on other tobacco products generates an estimated $351-$499 millionannually for tobacco control programs, healthcare for low income Missourians, andpayments for services provided to Missouri Medicaid beneficiaries and uninsuredMissourians. Local governmental fiscal impact is unknown.

YESNO

CONSTITUTIONAL

AMENDMENT NO. 6Proposed by the 93rd General Assembly

(Second Regular Session) SJR 26

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to include a tax exemption for real andpersonal property that is used or held exclusively for nonprofit purposes or activities ofveterans’ organizations?

It is estimated this proposal will have a minimal cost to state government. The estimatedcosts to local governmental entities range from zero to approximately $45,000.

YESNO

CONSTITUTIONAL

AMENDMENT NO. 7Proposed by the 93rd General Assembly

(Second Regular Session) HJR 55

Shall Article XIII, Section 3 of the Constitution be amended to require that legislators,statewide elected officials, and judges forfeit state pensions upon felony conviction,removal from office following impeachment or for misconduct, and to require thatcompensation for such persons be set by a citizens’ commission subject to voterreferendum?

It is estimated this proposal will have no costs to state or local governments.YESNO

_____________________________________________________________STATUTORY MEASURE

PROPOSITION BProposed by Initiative Petition

Shall Missouri Statutes be amendedto increase the state minimum wagerate to $6.50 per hour, or to the levelof the federal minimum wage if thatis higher, and thereafter adjust thestate minimum wage annually basedon changes in the Consumer PriceIndex?

The proposed revisions to Missouri’swage rate laws generates anestimated $3.3 million to $4.3million annually in state revenue.The impact on local government isunknown.

YESNO

Dues Paid Members 2006-2007 (Updated 10-24-06)***ALL BOLDED DENOTESMISSING CONTACT INFO***

Monique AbbyCarla AllenDonna AndersonC. Ronald BairdHonorable Nannette BakerEric BanksPhilippa BarrettHonorable Bettye Battle-TurnerWilliam BayKeith A. BirkesMary BonacorsiRuby BonnerHonorable Freeman BosleyErrin BraddockJohn BriscoeKaren BrooksSteven BrooksBernadette BrownJ. Michelle BrownHonorable Paula P. BryantDavid L. BryantShirley Bryant (bi-state)Connie McFarland ButlerRodney D. CaffeyRandall C. CahillDonald CallowaySusan CarlsonJerryl ChristmasHonorable Anna Marie ClarkePhyleccia Reed ColeDenise Watson Wesley ColemanKristin J. ConwellDouglas A. CopelandJoi N. CunninghamWilliam DaileySreenu DandamudiJane DarstDrew DavisCeleste DotsonJamica Dowell Honorable George DraperHonorable Judy P. DraperFrank FabbriCharles FergusonHonorable Iris FergusonThomas FinleyFelicia FordJovita FosterGenevieve FrankErica FreemanFrankie FreemanMary S. GillespieDaniel K. GlazierKenneth GoinsLee Clayton GoodmanGabriel GoreNicole Reid GoreGeorge GrahamMaurice B. GrahamJeannette GravissAnthony GrayShelia GreenbaumMichael GunnMicah HallStacy HancockCharlie J. Harris, Jr. Venus HarryTommie A. HarsleyWayne HarveyMargot HemphillHonorable Sandra Farragut-

Hemphill

Samuel HendersonThad HollieRita Montgomery-HollieRaymond HowardJerry HunterAfacha Ngozi IbeAl JohnsonCardina F. JohnsonConnie JohnsonReginald JohnsonRolanda JohnsonKaren JordanJennifer JoyceDee Joyce-HayesRyan JumperRita KazembeVanessa K. R. Keith Cathy KellyRobert KenneyMona LawtonMelton LewisSteven LewisMark H. LevisionKemba LoganJanette LohmanMaylin MahonyCheryl ManleyLinda M. MartinezHonorable David C. MasonMarlin MaxwellHonorable Donald McCullinSusie McFarlinWilliam J. McHugh, Sr.Pamela MeanesJ. Justin MeehanHonorable Vincent MichaelJoan K. MillerEric MillerTrent MitchellTonya McAlpine-MorrisMikki MurrayAmie E. Needham

James NeelyCamille NelsonAndrew Newman Genevieve NicholsKimberly NorwoodRonald A. NorwoodNadine V. NunnJackalyn OlingerKeisha PatrickHonorable Barbara PeeplesKarlla S. PhilpotCountess PriceHonorable Angela T. QuiglessPaul RandolphSteven RobertsCourtney RobinsonInez RossHonorable Booker T. ShawHonorable Charles A. ShawRueben Shelton Paul E. SimsGilbert SisonAnnette SlackChristopher SmithDonnell SmithEarnrolyn C. Smith Frank SmithWayman SmithPaul SondereggerElaine Harris SpearmanDana Summerville Honorable Calea F. Stovall-ReidHonorable Kathy A. Surratt-StatesRufus J. Tate, Jr.Nancy TaybornHonorable Marvin TeerHonorable Richard TeitelmanBeverly TempleHonorable Lisa ThompsonMavis ThompsonLeslie Tolliver-RogersDana Tucker

Jennifer TyusHonorable David VincentCeleste Vosmeyer Leslie P. Wallace (Husch &

Eppenberger)Yuri Nicholas WalkerJermaine WatsonJudge Ronnie WhiteDorothy White-ColemanHope WhiteheadHarold WhitfieldAlif A. WilliamsNakeyia WilliamsJB WilliamsRonda WilliamsEbony WoodsRochelle WoodiestLeslye YanceyIra M. YoungNick Zotos

Paralegals Sharon BroonerCorinne Crabtree (TC)Tanisha FieldsTiffany JohnsonKenya M. LeonardDebra Loveless (TC)Michelle A. Martin (TC)Tamara Miller (TC)Pamela PickettJacqueline O’Quinn (TC)Nina Turner (TC)

Law Student Members:(membership is free)

Sharhonda T. ShahidLaShonda LambertKimela R. WestRaven J. Akram

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Page 4MC Supplement to St. Louis Daily Record & The Countian

ing new ground while pursuing jus-tice. As the first woman prosecutorin Jackson County, I confirmed tothe legal world that the glass ceilingmust be broken. As prosecutor, Ihired an unprecedented number ofminority and African-Americanlawyers, not only as assistant prose-cutors, but as executives, managers,supervisors and the highest rankingdeputies. I was pleased to supportAfrican-Americans for the benchfrom my office. I helped some ofthe African-American assistant prose-cutors in Kansas City become judges.

Minority representation is a mainconcern of mine. I received theState Employment Advocate Awardfor my commitment to hiring andretaining minorities in an office thatpreviously lacked diversity. Justbefore I became auditor in January1999, the State Auditor’s Office hadonly 2 minorities (1%) on a 136member staff. By the end of my firstyear in office, 9% of my staff mem-bers were minorities. The minoritypresence continued to grow eachyear, with minorities making up 15%of my staff by the end of my fifthyear in office.

As State Auditor in 2003, I auditedthe Minority Business Enterprise(MBE) project to ensure that diversitywithin state contracts was a priority.A 1998 executive order set requiredlevels of participation by minority and

women-owned businesses for capitalimprovement projects and purchasesof goods and services. My auditfound that the State was not living upto its end of the bargain, and only 9%of state contracts were awarded tominority businesses. This number fellshort of the 10% required under theexecutive order.

Throughout my campaign for U.S.Senate I have demonstrated mycommitment to the African-Americancommunity. I opposed Missouri’sVoter ID law because it was uncon-stitutional and stand by the court’sdecision to overturn it. When mem-bers of the community are disenfran-chised, democracy has failed.

As Missouri’s Senator, I will fightto protect Social Security, a programnearly 41% of elderly African-Ameri-cans rely on as their sole income. Iam also a loyal proponent ofincreasing the minimum wage andworking towards making it easier forworkers to organize.

The African-American communityis fortunate to have the Mound CityBar Association advocating on itsbehalf. As a U.S. Senator I can pur-sue your goals on a national level.With your support in this importantelection, I will go to Washingtonprotecting the interests of theAfrican-American community.

Sincerely,Claire McCaskill

Cheryl S. Walker, Esq.© 2006 St. Louis, MO

You will likely recall the famed DredScott Decision where, after movingfrom the free state of Illinois and otherfree territories back to the slave state ofMissouri, Dred Scott and his wife Har-riet sued for their freedom. Followingseveral court proceedings spanning aneleven year period from 1846 through1857, the Scotts had their case heard inthe United States Supreme Court onlyto have the court hold that people ofAfrican ancestry were not, and couldnever be, citizens of the United Statesand therefore lacked standing to sue inFederal court.1

It is with that background that Ishare this story of a legacy whosedescendants have life and breath righthere in this city of the French King, thecity where the legal battle began. Onesuch descendant is Dred and HarrietScott’s great great granddaughter,Lynne Marie (Madison) Jackson, BryanCave LLP General Services Manager.Lynne, who was born, nurtured andeducated in St. Louis, Missouri, gra-ciously agreed to this interview and itis with sincere gratitude and heartfelthonor that I share what follows.

Ms. Jackson’s first realization of herrich heritage was at age five when sheattended a 100th Anniversary celebra-tion of the Dred Scott Decision withher father, John Alexander Madison,Jr. and her uncle Dred Scott Madison.With other family members, Lynneattended a re-enactment at the OldCourthouse of the initial case triedthere. Her father played the role ofDred Scott and her uncle provided theconcluding remarks. In that instantthe magnitude of her familial connec-tion began to unfold and that eventwas the impetus for her quest tobecome the griot/djoli (storyteller/his-torian) of her family on the subject ofDred and Harriet Scott. Her researchand discovery have led to the devel-opment of a deep spiritual connectionto her great great grandparents whomshe describes as “people of faith who,by faith, pursued their road”. Thatabiding faith resides with Lynne andpermeates the entire Scott/Madisonfamily.

Ms. Jackson appropriately pointsout that the significance of her greatgreat grandparents’ actions is far morethan the act of suing. The true legacyof Dred and Harriet Scott is illustratedby the fact that they “never gave up orquit.” Through them Lynne learnedto “always have hope, endure hard-ship and be willing to put herself outin order to have victory at the end ofthe road.”

Unfortunately, in many elementaryand high school classrooms the story ofDred Scott is often summarized to state“Dred Scott was a slave who sued for hisfreedom and lost.” Lynne noted thatthose settings rarely focus on the factthat the decision further united andsolidified the abolitionists’ determinationto rise in opposition to slavery and wasultimately a “catalyst for the civil war.”The Dred Scott Decision caused thepolitical tide of the era to turn. In fact,the decision became a pivotal point ofdispute during the senatorial debatebetween Stephen Douglas and AbrahamLincoln in 1858, with Lincoln concluding“that the Republican Party would remainhostile to the Dred Scott decision”.2

Two years later Abraham Lincolnbecame President and in 1863, irre-spective of the political and econom-

ic reasons involved, he signed theEmancipation Proclamation. Thesigning marked the beginning of whatbecame a 69 year period within whichAfricans living in America predomi-nantly identified with the RepublicanParty. That period continued until theelection of President Franklin Roo-sevelt in 1932. At that time mostAfrican Americans began to predomi-nantly identify with the DemocraticParty. When asked if there was any-thing she would like to share that wasnot elicited by the questions posed,Lynne revealed that the Dred Scottnames lives on in the Scott/Madisonfamily. One of her uncles is namedDred Scott Madison. That uncle has ason on whom he bestowed the name,as did that son to his. As a result, thegreat great great grandson of DredScott is a living testament of the fami-ly legacy and carries the name intothe future, perhaps to give to his son,yet unborn..

The recently formed Dred ScottHeritage Foundation, headed byLynne Jackson, is planning a varietyof events from January 2007 throughOctober 2007 to commemorate the150th anniversary of the Decision andto celebrate the life and legacy ofDred and Harriet Scott. Those eventswill include a symposium on theeffects of the decision, past and pres-ent, hosted by Washington University,a Gala Dinner in September, specialexhibits at local museums, includingthe Eugene Field House, school activ-ities and re-enactments. “Friends” forthese and other events and programsthroughout the year include the BarAssociation of Metropolitan St. Louis,Bryan Cave LLP, Central BaptistChurch, Grace Hill Settlement, Mis-souri Historical Society, Mound CityBar, National Park Service (Old Cour-thouse), St. Louis Black RepertoryTheater, St. Louis Public Library, theUniversity of Missouri-St. Louis andmore than 35 other organizations.

Mound City Bar Association mem-bers can get involved in planning the2007 celebratory activities by contact-ing Lynne Jackson of the Dred ScottHeritage Foundation at 314.259.2307.The foundation needs additional vol-unteers to assist with planning,genealogy research, fundraising, grantwriting, web design, and administra-tive tasks.

Finally, be inspired, encouraged,and energized by Dred and HarrietScott’s belief in hope and possibility.Through their spirits we continue toclose the gap created by looted lega-cies. On their shoulders stand theEmancipation Proclamation, the 13th,14th and 15th Amendments to ourConstitution and the Civil Rights Actof 1965. Because of them, we areallowed to be…

1 Scott v. Sanford, 60 US 393(1857).

2 David Blight on the Dred ScottDecision.

The Legacy Lives

Cheryl S. Walker, Esq.

Leslie Tolliver, Angel Tree ChairpersonI am excited to be the 2006 MCBA liason for the Angel Tree Project.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar, the Angel Tree Project locally,is an extension of the nation wide Angel Tree Christmas prison fellow-ship. The idea of this program is to connect parents in prison with theirchildren through the delivery of Christmas gifts, purchased by volunteers.Here in St. Louis, while there are many sponsors, the St. Louis RamsOrganization has played a large role each year by donating time andefforts, as well as the dome as the location of the annual Angel TreeChristmas gathering. The players are always eager to volunteer their timeand talents to the youth. The St. Louis‚ Legal Community shows it’s sup-port yearly, and the Mound City Bar Association's participation is a smallpiece of that puzzle. This year it is my goal that MCBA sponsor 50 chil-dren as individual members, as well as sponsor a family of siblings bythe organization as a whole. I am pleased to announce we are well onour way, with 22% of this year’s goal already met, I am looking forwardto being a part of Angel Tree 2006.

I’d like to give a special thanks to those members who committed eager-ly and early: • Nicole Colbert, • Cheryl Goliday, • Cardina Johnson,• Shavon Harris, • Phyleccia Reed Cole, • Venus Harry, • Inez Ross,• Erwin O. Switzer, • Carla Allen, • Rochelle Woodiest, and • Leslie Tol-liver-Rogers.

If you are interested in sponsoring a child or volunteering at theDecember 9, 2006 christmas party, please contact me atleslie_t_tolliver@yahoo.com or by phone at 314-374-3791

Project Angel Tree

McCaskillContinued from page 1MC

Our bill, recently approved by theSenate Judiciary Committee, will cre-ate two new federal offices chargedwith exclusively investigating andprosecuting unsolved Civil Rights-era murders.

We want the murderers and theiraccomplices who are still living toknow that the Department of Justiceand the Federal Bureau of Investiga-tion is going after them. Mostimportantly, we need to unearth thetruth and do justice because, asMound City Bar members know,

there cannot be healing without thetruth.

I am committed to passing thisbipartisan bill so that justice delayedwill not be justice denied. But Ican’t do it alone – I need your help.I am asking for your support so wecan continue to partner together onthese and other issues that areimportant to your members.

Sincerely,Jim Talent

United States Senator

TalentContinued from page 1MC

Supplement to St. Louis Daily Record & The Countian Page 5MC

Upcoming EventsMCBA 2007 Annual Retreat & Golf TournamentRonda Williams & Ebony Woods – Co-Chairs

Date: Friday & Saturday, May 4-5, 2007 Cost: Ranges between $99-$299 (dependent upon selected accommodations)Place: Innsbrook Resort & Conference Center

1 Aspen CircleInnsbrook, Missouri 63390

CLE Credit: 6.0 CLE Hours (including 1.0 ethics)Topics: Professionalism/Disbarment; Evidence & Trial Techniques; Federal Court Practice; Labor & Employment Law Update; Judicial

Panel Do’s & Don’ts; Legislative UpdateOther: Golf Tournament to take place in the afternoon on May 5, 2007Deadlines: Deposit (_ cost) Due by December 1, 2006; Final Payment Due by March 16, 2007Contact: Ronda Williams ph #314/588-7000 or e-mail: RWilliams@FoxGalivn.com or

Ebony Woods ph #314/259-4500 or e-mail: ewoods@stinsonmoheck.com

Mound City Bar Association’s — Scovel Richardson Scholarship Dinner:Elaine Harris Spearman — Chairperson

Date: Saturday, June 30, 2007Time: 6:00 p.m. — President’s Champagne Sip

7:00 p.m. — Program & DinnerPlace: Hilton St. Louis at the Ball Park, DowntownSpeaker: TBACost: $85.00 per person ($850.00 for a table of 10)Contact Person: Elaine Harris Spearman, Esq. at #622-4932

MCBA Scovel Richardson Scholarship Committee • Judge Ferguson — Chairperson• Judge David Vincent • Judge Paula Bryant • Attorney Phyleccia Reed-Cole. For more information or to download an application – Visit: http://moundcitybar.com/scholarship.html

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National Bar AssociationMavis Thomas, Vice President — Regions and Affiliates

NOV. 1-5, 2006: LITTLE ROCK, AR: Wiley Branton Issues Symposium

JAN. 10-14, 2007: ST. KITTS: Mid-Winter Conference and Judicial Council Meeting

MAY 9-13, 2007: HOLLYWOOD, FL: Mid-Year Conference and Gertrude E. Rush Award DinnerPLEASE NOTE: THE ANNUAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE IS CONDUCTED DURING THIS CONFERENCE. (ATTEN-DANCE IS MANDATORY FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR A NBA OFFICE).

JUNE 2007: SOUTH AFRICA: International Affiliates Meeting

JULY 28-AUGUST 4, 2007: ATLANTA, GA: NBA 82nd Annual Convention

NATIONAL OFFICE: 1225 11th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001. TELE: 800-621-2988 or 202-842-3900FAX: 202-289-6170NBA WEBSITE: www.nationalbar.org

Page 6MC Supplement to St. Louis Daily Record & The Countian

election laws and eliminated manyof the forms of identification thatwere previously acceptable andestablished a strict photo IDrequirement-essentially allowingonly those photo IDs that aredated and issued by the state, itsnational guard or U.S. military.

Circuit Judge Richard Callahanconsidered two combined lawsuitsclaiming the requirement thatdemands voters show a federal orMissouri-issued photo ID at thepolls was an unconstitutional bur-den on voters. The judge agreed,

issuing an injunction halting imple-mentation of the law. Callahansaid the requirement is particularlytroublesome to women and thepoor because a separate Missourilaw requires those obtaining orrenewing a driver’s license to showthey are lawfully in the country,generally with a birth certificate orpassport. Those whose nameshave changed, such as some mar-ried women, also must providedocuments verifying thosechanges. While the voter Identifica-tion card would be free, the under-

lying paperwork has a cost, whichthe judge found unacceptable.

“The photo ID burden placed onthe voter may seem minor orinconsequential to the mainstreamof our society.” the judge contin-ued. “However for the elderly, thepoor, the undereducated, or other-wise disadvantaged, the burdencan be great if not insurmountable,and it is those very people outsidethe mainstream of society who arethe least equipped to bear thecosts or navigate the many bureau-cracies necessary to obtain the

required documentation.”This legislation flies in the face

of our right, guaranteed by theConstitution as well as the recentlyreauthorized 1965 Voting RightsAct, which mandates that no stateor municipality shall in any wayinfringe on our right to vote. H.R.4844 re-creates new obstacles invoting akin to a modern day “poll-tax” by forcing U.S citizens to payfor government approved ID thatmany of our most vulnerable citi-zens do not have or cannot easilyobtain to prove their citizenship.

JohnsonContinued from page 1MC

The President’s Column: 2006-2007 Legal LegendsSupplement to St. Louis Daily Record & The Countian Page 7MC

The St. Louis legal community isfilled with African Americans whohave made tremendous contribu-tions to the legal profession andindividuals who have historicallybeen avid supporters of AfricanAmericans attorneys. AlthoughMound City Bar Association(“MCBA”) and other organizationshave done an outstanding job ofrecognizing some of these individ-uals, there are many pioneers/trail-blazers whose contributions havegone unrecognized. To that end,in July 2006 MCBA established theLegal Legends award. The purposeof this award is to pay homage toindividuals who have made an out-standing contribution to the St.Louis legal profession or who havebeen historical supporters ofAfrican-American attorneys. How-ever, said contributions have oftenbeen discounted and overlooked.

After diligent consideration, theMCBA Legal Legends Committeeawarded the 2006-2007 Legal Leg-ends Award to the following phe-nomenal individuals: 1) The Hon-orable Evelyn Baker; 2) The Hon-orable Michael Calvin; 3) RitaMontgomery-Hollie; 4) HaroldWhitfield; and 5) Ira Young.

The Honorable Evelyn M. BakerThe Honorable Evelyn M. Baker

is a true St. Louis Legal Pioneerwhose contributions have beenoverlooked. She was the FirstAfrican American woman to beappointed to the Circuit Court inthe State of Missouri. She wasappointed on May 5th, 1983.

During her time on the bench,she has been a strong advocate andpreserver of justice. To that end, inthe mist of controversy she defiedconventional wisdom and ruled tohold the voting poles open so thatno voter would be disenfran-chised. In addition, she has oftenleveled the playing field for partieswho have appeared before her.

Bio: Educated at St. Louis Uni-versity, A.B., philosophy; J.D.;Served on the National RelationsBoard, Region 14, 1973 and 1974;St. Louis City Circuit Attorney’sOffice, 1974-1977; St. Louis Prose-cuting Attorney’s Office, 1977 and1978; U.S. Attorney’s Office, East-ern District of Missouri, 1978-1983.She is a member of The MissouriBar, Mound City Bar Association,American Bar Association, WomenLawyers Association, Phi Delta Phi,and St. Louis Cathedral.

The Honorable Michael B.Calvin

The Honorable Michael B.Calvin is an outstanding leader inthe African American legal commu-nity. He is the first African Ameri-can to serve as presiding Judge forthe City of St. Louis Circuit Court,Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit.Currently, he is the only sittingAfrican American judge who waselected to a judgeship. During histime on the bench, he has earnedthe respect of lawyers and his fel-low Judges as a man of sound rea-son and good judgment.

Bio: Educated at MonmouthCollege, Illinois, B.A.; St. Louis Uni-versity, J.D.; Practicing attorney,1976-1978; Elected magistrate judgeof City of St. Louis, 1978; becameassociate circuit judge by operationof law, 1979; Appointed circuitjudge November 17th, 1988.

Rita M. Montgomery-HollieRita Montgomery-Hollie is

regarded among her peers as oneof the premiere African Americanlawyers specializing in adoption.Throughout her career, she hasalways been an advocate for socialchange. Prior to going to lawschool, she decided to become asocial worker because she wasconcerned about promoting posi-tive change for disenfranchisedindividuals who were not in theposition to advocate for them-selves. Thereafter, she pursued alaw degree because she believedthat a law degree would provideher with a better platform to effec-tuate change.

Over the course of her career,she has worked in the MissouriAttorney General’s Office, whereshe successfully applied consumer

protection legislation to the prob-lem of lead-based paint in olderrental properties. In 1992, shehelped form an adoption agency,Friends of African-American Fami-lies and Children Service Center.

In addition, she has taught busi-ness law at the University of Mis-souri-St. Louis and served as a St.Louis municipal judge, all whilebuilding her own law practice,where her primary focus is adop-tions, guardianships, and childadvocacy. Finally, she has servedas a guardian ad litem for St. LouisCounty.

Bio: Educated at WashingtonUniversity, A.B.; J.D./M.S.W.

Harold L. WhitfieldHarold L. Whitfield is perceived

by many as one of the best triallawyers in the State of Missouri barnone. To that end, he is one ofonly a few hundred U.S. membersof the prestigious InternationalAcademy of Trial Lawyers, as wellas a member of the American Col-lege of Trial Lawyers. Mr. Whitfieldis Of Counsel to the law firm ofDonald L. Schlapprizzi, P.C. Mr.Whitfield is a past president ofMound City Bar Association from1976-1978, and reigns as an out-standing leader and role model foraspiring and practicing trial attor-neys.

Bio: Educated at WashingtonUniversity, B.S.B.A, J.D.; Served asDirector of Conciliation for theState of Missouri’s Commission onHuman Rights from 1966-1970;Administrative Assistant to theRegional Director of the U.S. CivilService Commission from 1970-1974; Adjunct Professor of Law atWashington University LawSchool. He is a member of TheMissouri Bar, Mound City Bar Asso-ciation, American College of TrialLawyers, International Academy ofTrial Lawyers, and a Lifetime mem-ber of the NAACP. He is also veryactive in his church and has servedas secretary of the Judicial Councilof the A.M.E. Church

Ira M. YoungIra M. Young is a principal with

the firm of Young & Thompson inSt. Louis City. The firm is engagedin the general practice of law. Mr.Young’s practice has included per-sonal injury claims for plaintiffs anddefendants, business and bankinglaw, labor-management affairs andbankruptcy.

In 1979, Mr. Young was appoint-ed by the Missouri Supreme Courtto serve a five year term as a mem-ber of the Board of Law Examin-ers. The Board had the responsi-bility of preparing, administeringand grading the semi-annual StateBar Examination. The Board wasalso required to determine thequalifications of all applicants seek-ing admission to The Missouri Bar.

Mr. Young is a past president ofthe Mound City Bar Associationserving from 1970-1972. He is amember of the Association of TrialLawyers of America and the BarAssociation of Metropolitan St.Louis. He has served as vice-pres-ident of the Board of Directors ofthe Legal Aid Society of Greater St.Louis, and on the Boards of Familyand Children’s Service of GreaterSt. Louis, and the Girl Scout Coun-cil of St. Louis.

As exemplified by their accom-plishments, all of these recipientsexemplify the high moral and ethi-cal standards of the legal profes-sion as well as the tenets ofMCBA. Moreover, throughout theircareers each one has demonstratedan outstanding contribution to thelegal profession through sustainedexcellence in the quality of theirwork, integrity and dedication.Finally, all of them have demon-strated a strong commitment to theissues impacting the African-Ameri-can community as well as theadvancement of civil rights and jus-tice for all.

An award ceremony and recep-tion honoring each recipient willbe held after the October, Decem-ber, January and March GeneralBody meetings.

The awardees will be honoredaccording to the following sched-ule:

Wednesday, December 27, 2006— Rita Montgomery-Hollie and IraYoung

Wednesday, January 31, 2007 —Harold Whitfield

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 —Judge Michael Calvin.

Wednesday, TBA — Judge Eve-lyn Baker

Please join us in congratulatingthese individuals.

Finally, I would like to thank themembers of the Legal Legend Com-mittee (Earnrolyn “Lynn” Smith,Chairperson, Mona Lawton andRufus Tate) for their continual hardwork and for making excellentselections.

Pamela Meanes, Esq.

Page 8MC Supplement to St. Louis Daily Record & The Countian